Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

CI042

Incident date

February 24, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, al-Zohour, al-Tahrir, al-Bunook [also known as Al Massaref] and al-Muthanna neighborhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.34585235, 43.09857692 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Reported Coalition airstrikes on multiple targets in eastern Mosul – said to be occupied by Islamic State forces – allegedly killed 14 civilians, including women and children. According to NINA, medical forensic teams in Mosul “received 14 dead bodies belonging to civilians, [who] were killed in al-Zohour, al-Tahrir, al-Bunook [also known as Al Massaref] and al-Muthanna neighborhoods”. Bas News and Baghdad News also reported civilian fatalities.

Herak also confirmed heavy Coalition strikes on the city. While it made no mention of civilian deaths, it noted one witness as saying: “Several other air strikes by international aircraft targeted the airport, which led to panic amongst residents – many of whom left those areas due to the intensity of the shelling.”

In July 2017 the Coalition classed the event as non credible on grounds of lack of available evidence of civilian harm: “Feb. 24, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

Based on reports of civilian casualties at the time, Airwars continues to assess this as a likely event.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    a:1:{i:0;s:21:"insufficient_evidence";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

A major coalition air raid on Mosul on February 24th 2015 is confirmed. According to CJTF-OIR: “Near Mosul, three airstrikes struck an ISIL large tactical unit, multiple ISIL checkpoints, an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 11 ISIL buildings, two ISIL armored vehicles and seven ISIL vehicles.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS055

Incident date

February 18, 2015

Location

الشدادي, Al Maryajib crossroads, in area 47, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.2752788, 41.2818146 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

It was reported that one civilian male was killed in a coalition airstrike at al Shadadi. According to Thiqah he was in the area by chance when coalition aircraft struck: “One civilian was killed and others wounded yesterday (Thursday), when coalition aircraft bombed several areas of the rural southern city of Al-Hasakah.” Activists in the city confirmed the death of one man after a coalition airstrike on “Junction Al Mreijab in the 47 area of the city.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Ali Al Kalut
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention an alleged Coalition airstrike on “Al Maryajib crossroads, in area 47”, near Al-Shadadi (الشدادي), Al Hasakah Governorate, Syria. Due to limited satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to locate the Al Maryajib / Mmrayjab junction. “Area 47” is likely a reference to Highway 47: the Sinjar – Shadadi road, which begins at the Iraq – Syria border. Location of Highway 47 close to the Iraq – Syria border: 36.2752788, 41.2818146

  • Highway 47

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near al-Maryajib crossroad, al-Shadadi, al-Hassakah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

Air strikes were confirmed in the vicinity on both February 17th-18th and February 18th-19th 2015, with the coalition reporting respectively that “Near Al Hasakah, an airstrike struck multiple ISIL oil pump jacks” and that “Near Al Hasakah, two airstrikes struck multiple ISIL oil pump jacks and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI039

Incident date

February 17, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Cultural area, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.375, 43.141667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to NINA, citing a security source, nine members of a family – including women and children – died after coalition warplanes “bombed a house at dawn in the Althaqafiyah residential complex area in the north of Mosul, suspected of being taking a den or a hideout by Daash terrorists.”

 

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the residential “Al-thaqafiyah complex (Cultural)” ( ثقافي ) area, North of Mosul. The incident would have occurred around “dawn,” which would be at approximately 6:30 local time. The location of the midpoint of the Cultural ( ثقافي ) area is: 36.375, 43.141667

  • Cultural ( ثقافي ) area, North Mosul

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    38SLF333271
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For February 16th-17th 2015 the coalition has confirmed that “Near Mosul, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL mortar position and an ISIL fighting position.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI040

Incident date

February 17, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, multiple neighbourhoods, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.3789337, 43.1850243 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to a single source, local eyewitness claimed one unnamed civilian was killed and five others were severely injured after the coalition allegedly bombed several areas in Makhmoor, south of Mosul

 

The incident was first reported on February 18, 2015 at 9:03 pm by Fursan al Malham.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention several neighbourhoods located in Mosul: al-Zohour (حي الزهور), coordinates: 36.3789337, 43.1850243; al-Bunook/al-Massaref (المصارف), coordinates: 36.383915, 43.175855; al-Muthanna (حي المثنى), coordinates: 36.3738889, 43.1718063; al-Tahrir (تحرير), coordinates: 36.389470, 43.202222. Reports do not identify which strike occured in which neighbourhood. This is most likely because al-Zohour, al-Massaref and al-Muthanna, are adjacent, covering a area of only 4 square km

  • al-Zohour ( حي الزهور ), al-Massaref ( المصارف ), al-Muthanna ( حي المثنى ), al-Tahrir ( تحرير )

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near multiple neighborhoods in Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 26, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No publicly reported coalition strikes for February 16th-18th 2015 match this location.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS050

Incident date

February 2, 2015

Location

الشدادي, Shadadi, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.056316, 40.730438 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a second alleged incident in the area for this night, it was reported that civilian oil workers died in a Coalition attack. According to Thiqa, “preliminary reports refer to the fall of the martyrs among civilians working in the oil, as well as a number of wounded civilians arrived at the field hospital located in the region , while the fate of dozens of other civilians remains unknown as it is not possible to reach the area because of the intensive coalition flights over the area.”

An internal CENTCOM investigation noted allegations on Twitter that the Coalition had “targeted the oil refineries in Kubaniyah, Al Hawl, and Tishrin in Al Hassakah governorate, killing several employees and workers.” A heavily redacted summary concluded that there was “not enough information to confirm credibility.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Video showing alleged coalition strikes on oil fields near al Shadadi, al Hassaka. Published by SOHR on 4th February 2015.
CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    a:1:{i:0;s:5:"other";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    Al Hasakah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • Coalition aircraft bombed ISIL locations in southern and southeastern Al Hasakah killing or wounding several people. Not credible. Review of WSV conducted.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM034-C

Incident date

January 31, 2015

Location

Dugule, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

2.27893, 44.523991 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A mystery airstrike reportedly killed between 40 and 60 alleged belligerents on January 31st 2015. Xinhua also reported that “scores of others were injured” in the attack, leaving it unclear whether those injured were civilians or militants. It was described by some as a US drone strike – thought the Pentagon denied this.

Abdulkadir Mohamed Nor Sidi – the governor of Lower Shabelle where the strike hit -reportedly told journalists that unmanned aircraft had targeted a training camp and a house which he said belonged to al Shabaab. The governor also claimed: “Unmanned aircraft also hit Shabaab armored vehicles patrolling the Dugule neighborhood in Toratorow village.”

The US military however denied it had carried out the attack, while confirming it was responsible for a drone strike at 9am local time in the Bay region the same day. AMISOM also denied carrying out the attack, saying it did not have the aircraft to carry out such actions. And the Kenyan Defence Force (KDF), which had launched air attacks in southern Somalia, told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism that the strikes were “not within Sector II where KDF is mandated to operate”.

“I can confirm that between 45-60 al-Shabaab militants were killed during the airstrikes…. Some of their officials were killed also in the attack including foreigners,” Nor Sidi said, according to Horseed Media. A local resident told Xinhua: “There was a loud explosion from the village, and we ran away to escape fearing for our lives.”

If a UAV strike, it would have been the most lethal US drone strike since June 23rd 2009 when an attack killed at least 60 in Pakistan, according to Airwars data. Though claimed as a US action, the high death toll is more in keeping with reported Kenya Defence Force attacks against Shabaab. Though reported as a US strike, the high death toll appeared more in keeping with reported Kenya Defence Force attacks against Shabaab at around this time.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Unknown, Kenyan Military Forces, Amisom Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    40–60

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Dugule, near Torato in the Lower Shabelle region. The generic coordinates for the village of Dugule are: 2.27893, 44.523991. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the locatioin further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Kenyan Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Kenyan Military Forces
  • Kenyan Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Amisom Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Amisom Military Forces
  • Amisom Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Unknown, Kenyan Military Forces, Amisom Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    40–60

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI035

Incident date

January 28, 2015

Location

الموصل‎, Mosul, Centre, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.339375, 43.130993

Airwars assessment

Citing a police source in the city, NINA claimed that nine civilians were killed and seven injured in an international coalition airstrike: “The source said that ‘the international coalition targeted the homes of civilians which resulted in the killing and injuring of dozens of civilians’… He pointed out that ‘the bodies of the martyrs arrived at the forensic medicine in Mosul and the injured were taken to hospital for treatment.‘”

In July 2017, the Coalition announced that it had classed the event as non credible as a result of a lack of available evidence of civilian harm: “Jan. 28, 2015, near Mosul, Iraq, via Airwars report: After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (1 child3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    a:1:{i:0;s:21:"insufficient_evidence";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Mosul, Iraq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jul 7, 2017

  • After a review of available information and strike video it was assessed that there is insufficient evidence to find that civilians were harmed in this strike.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

According to the coalition, between January 27th-28th 2015: “Near Mosul, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL checkpoint, six ISIL shipping containers, and four ISIL fighting positions.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (1 child3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CI032

Incident date

January 23, 2015

Location

الرمادي, Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq

Geolocation

33.437441, 43.286666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An internal CENTCOM report cited a Tweet on January 23rd as claiming that 6 members of one family had been killed in a Coalition strike in Anbar province.

The identity of the tweeter was redacted in a publicly-released version of the file, though they were described as “Pro-ISIL… reported coalition airstrikes killed 6 family members in the area of At Tash in Ar Ramadi on an unspecified date.”

Two coalition airstrikes numbered 1917 and 1921 were identified as possible culprits.

However it was then noted that it was “Impossible to correlate two strikes above with allegation.” It was subsequently decided the claim was “Not credible. No further inquiry required.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    a:1:{i:0;s:5:"other";}
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    At Tash, Ar Ramadi, Iraq.
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2015

  • Twitter. Not credible.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

COALITION-ASSESSED CASUALTY INCIDENT

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]